Crane and scaffolding.



Nn. 698,423. Patented Apr. 22, |902.

S. T. WELLMAN, J. W. SEAVER &. C. H. WELLMAN. CRANE AND SCAFFULDING.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1897.) llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet IA TH: arms Pneus co. PNoro-Llmo., wAsmNuToN, n. c.

No. 698,423. Patented Apr. 22, |9024. s. T. wELLMAN, J. w.-sEAvEn apc. H. wELLMAN. CRANE AND SCAFFDLDING.

(Applicacion fixed Dec. 17, 1897.) Y (No Model.) f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.folding,'of which y UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. WELLMANQJOHN W. SEAVER, AND CHARLES H. VVELLMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

`CRANE AND scAFi-'oi n|r\ie.4

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,423, dated April` 22, 1902. Application filed December 17,1897. Serial No. 662,297. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern: Y 4

`Be it known that we, SAMUEL T. WELL` MAN, JOHN W. SEAvER, and CHARLES H. WELLMAN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Cleveland,` Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Cranes and Scafthe following is a specification.

The object of ourinvention is io construct a scalfolding and runway for traveling cranes to be usedespeciallyin ship-yards. We also use the scaffolding to support brackets on which rest suitable planks, and we utilize the weight of part of the runway to resist the overturning tendency of the crane.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a View in cross-sectiomshowing the scaolding and the crane mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a side view.` Fig. 3ds a perspective View of a portion of Fig. l. Fig. Liisa perspective view of one ot the trucks, and Figs. 5 and 6 are viewsillustrating modifications. l

The ordinary arrangement for a traveling crane of a ship-yard consists of a wooden trestle-work supporting rails upon .which the crane travels. Against this trestle-work is built a temporary scaffolding to support the planks upon which the workmen stand when riveting and doing other work at the side of the ship. The crane simply rests upon the rails at the top of the scaffolding, and should there be a tendency to overturn the crane such tendency is only resisted by the weight of the crane itself, and one of the main objects ot our invention is Ato resist the overturning tendency of the crane by utilizing the weightof part of the runway, and we dispense entirely with the temporary scaffoldin g and substitute therefor adjustable brackets, which are mounted directly upon the uprights. which support the runway. These brackets can be secured in any suitable manner and can be adjusted either vertically or toward and from the body of the ship, as desired.

A A are the posts which support the runway. These posts may be built in pairs and braced, as shown, the bracing depending upon the height, Width, and character of the structure, and at the top of each postare two lines of stringers B B. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and

3, these stringers are made of channel-irons b. There are two sets of channel-irons for each post, one line of channels being beneath the trolleyfwheels (l d and the other line of channels being directly above Vthe wheels, so asto prevent the tipping of the crane. These channels besides being connected by the posts y A are also connected together by the kneebraces r1. and the angle-irons ct', which are arranged at intervals between the posts, so that 6o the channels not only act as rails for the trolleys, but also aid materiallyin strengthening the scaiolding.

We prefer to make the trucks or trolleys D in the form shown in Fig. 4( Each ltru'ckor 65 trolley has four wheels d, adapted to the rails or channels on the scaffolding and are connected to the crane Eby means of pins It', .thus permitting the track to deiiect or otherwise get out of line without seriouslyintery7o tering with the running of the crane.

The crane `E has a base-framework formed of longitudinal channel-bars c, cross channel bars, and I-beams e', and on this base rests the framework e?, supporting the horizontal girders E and trusswork E2.

A trolley F of the usual construction traverscs the rails ff on the girders E', and this trolley is provided with the ordinary operators cage F'. The arrangement is such that 8o material can be lifted from any portion ofthe yard, carried down the runway, and placed in position upon the ship at the side of the runway. In the present instance on two of the upper channel-beams b of therunway is a rack-plate c, with which gear the pinions t on vertical shafts I, adapted tosuitable bearings on the base-frame of the crane, and on the upper end of these shafts are bevel-wheels i', gearing with bevel-wheels 2 on a cross- 9o shaft If, having in the present instance a gear-wheel 3, meshing with a pinion i4 of a motor I2. We have shown in the present in- -stance an electric motor; but it will be understood that any suitable motive power may be used.

In order to support the gang-planks uponV which the workmen stand when riveting or doing other work at the side of a ship the posts A A of the structure have a series of roo holes g at short intervals, preferably extending the full length of the posts, as shown in Fior. l.

5G represents brackets also having a series of holes g', so that by passing bolts g2 in the holesin the brackets and the posts the brackets can be secured in any position to which they may be adjusted,and upon these brackets are placed the planks G'. In some instances the holes may be dispensed with and clamps substituted therefor, or the brackets may be bolted tothe posts in a manner differing from that shown in the drawings, and they may Aconsist of rods with screw ends provided with nuts.

It will be seen by the above description that the planks can be arranged in any manner along the side of the ship and can be adjusted either vertically or horizontally and can be removed entirely, if necessary, and that the crane is not only supported by the structure, but is prevented from overturning bythe arrangement of the upper and lower rails between which the truck-wheels travel, so that should there be any tendency to overturn the crane it is held down by the upper line of rails on either side, and as the two channels are tied together at intervals thefull strength of both channels is utilized to resist either upward or downward strains. 1

In addition to the dead-weight ofthe structure we firmly anchor the legs of the scaffolding ortrestle-work to their foundations, thereby utilizing the weight of the foundations to help resist the overturning tendency of the crane when carrying a load at the end of either arm.

By traversing the crane by means of spurwheels which engage with the racks the crane is moved evenly, and the tendency to move diagonally on the track is prevented.

While our invention relates particularly to scaffolding and runways for traveling cranes in ship-yards, it will be understood that `the invention may be used in connection with other large structural work.

The two sets of posts may be suitably braced from top to bottom by tie-rods and cross-bars; but if it is wished to lay a track or runway between the posts at the base, as shown in Fig. 1, we prefer to use a heavy arch,.as shown, and continue the stay rods and bars above the arch.

Ve claim as our invention l. In a crane-su pportingstructure,the combination of a scaffolding carrying horizontal girders, a crane supported thereon, said crane being carried on wheels constructed to run between and upon adjacent pairs of said girders, substantially as described.

2. In a crane-supporting structure,the combination of a scaffolding having its upper portionconnected by sets of horizontal girders, the girders of each set being vertically over one another and having bracing members extending between them, with a crane supported by said scaffolding having wheels placed v to run between the girders of said sets, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a scaffolding, a series of upper rails and a series of lower rails mounted on the scaffolding, trucks having wheels adapted to the space between the two sets of rails, a crane carried by said trucks and having overhanging girders and a trolley adapted to travel on the girders, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a scaifolding, rails thereon, four trucks having Wheels adapted to the rails, the base-frame of a crane, and a horizontal pivot-pin securing each truck to the base-frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a scaffolding carrying rails and longitudinal racks and a substantially horizontal framework having a truck provided with wheels for supporting each of the corners of lsaid framework, said trucks running on said rails, vertical members carried by the framework and a truss structure supported by said vertical members, gear-wheels carried by the framework, and means for revolving said wheels and thereby causing the framework with its attached parts to move over the scaffolding, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our nam es to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL T. WELLMAN. JoHN w. sEAvEH. CHARLES H. WELLMAN.

vWitnesses:

C. W. CoMsTocK, JOHN M. GEORGE. 

